The Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA was formally established in July, 2014 when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the petition after nearly four years of hard work from local vineyard owners and supporters. The AVA formally recognizes what drinkers of the area’s wines have known for years: that this corner of the Appalachians produces exceptional wines with distinctive qualities unique to this region.

Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA straddles the border of Georgia and North Carolina, and is within easy reach of Atlanta, Greenville, Chattanooga and Asheville. Upper Hiwassee Highlands is Georgia’s first AVA and North Carolina’s fourth. The AVA encompasses Towns, Union and Fannin counties in Georgia and Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina.